Frank Schneider has correctly observed that the word sequestration is largely misused as it is applied to a 2 percent reduction in the increase of the federal budget. He concludes his letter by wondering how this 2 percent reduction could cause so many layoffs and furloughs, let alone canceling White House tours.

I think the answer is that our president is simply having another temper tantrum because he didn't get his way and receive the whole requested budget increase. Someone has to suffer when the president doesn't get everything he asked for. He selectively enforces, or fails to enforce laws, enacted by the legislative body of the government as though he were a tyrant drunk on his own power. He tours the country campaigning against Washington as though he has nothing to do with any of the policies, regulations and laws that have resulted in crippling our economy. Make no mistake; these are his policies, regulations and laws.

Had George Bush, or any Republican president behaved in this outrageous manner, the mainstream media would have been all over him. But because he is a Democrat and the first black president, the mainstream media let him get by with it.

Doyle Beneby deserves whatever bonus he gets because he is able to snow the news media and the public. His latest proposal to raise our electric rates is a great example. San Antonio rates are lower than Houston, Dallas and eight other major cities.

This is for a reason; San Antonio's cost of living has always been lower than these cities because the wages here are lower. San Antonio does not have the huge corporation base as those other cities where higher wages and taxes are paid.

Our homes are cheaper by size, our food is cheaper, etc. We brag about CPS and SAWS being public utilities, but when has the public had a say in anything they do?

I just want to say, I retired from the military to live in San Antonio because during my exit briefings I learned that my retirement dollar was worth much more in San Antonio than cities such as Seattle, Dallas, Houston, etc. In searching for a second career here, I quickly found out competing for a decent job in a low wage scale job market was hard.

Terry Dill

Strange S.A.

As a non-native San Antonian, these are some things about this wonderful city that make me say: What?!

First, everyone knows that dark colors absorb the heat; so why do so many in this city wear black all the time? Also, diners here are not open 24/7, nor do they serve breakfast. Ice houses here only sell alcoholic beverages, and not ice.

People here wear jeans and sweatshirts if the temperature goes below 95 degrees. There also seems to be at least one panhandler at every intersection of Loop 410.

There are no real bakeries here — they are cafés and delis that call themselves a bakery because they also sell cupcakes.

In the Northeast, you can get just about any kind of baked good in a bakery, including bread.

Bakeries here are closed on Sunday, traditionally the busiest day of the week for a bakery.